Submit to Energies Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "C: Energy Economics and Policy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2025) | Viewed by 21406

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Devinder Mahajan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
Interests: energy policy issues; low carbon energy technology development and Implementation: clean fuel production technologies complementing CO2 mitigation utilizing methane hydrates, methane and biomass for catalytic methanol, mix; ultra-deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS); extremophiles-mediated H2-production for fuel-cell applications; geothermal energy-minerals extraction from brines

Prof. Dr. Pierre Failler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Economics and Finance Group, Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK
Interests: blue economics; energy economics; sustainable development; blue energies; renewable energy resource
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zhan-Ming Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Applied Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Interests: energy economics; ecological economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen, the lightest energy molecule that burns to produce only water, is considered a frontrunner to replace carbon-dioxide-emitting fossil fuels. However, dihydrogen does not exist in nature in enough abundance; thus, it has to be produced from other primary energy feedstocks such as water and biomass. A recent surge in R&D activity is focused on addressing challenges centred around the entire hydrogen value chain: production, storage, transport, and end uses. The Special Issue will host papers on these topics to showcase hydrogen’s potential key role in the energy mix by the end of this decade. A foreword will capture the complexity of this non-carbon molecule.

In the modern economy, growth is sustained by energy consumption, with carbon emissions being a part of this. The nexus between economic growth, energy consumption, and carbon emissions is important for us to understand the physical foundations and constraints of the anthropocentic world. This Special Issue will host papers reflecting the nexus from different aspects.

The global energy shift was in the pipeline for many years but with slow progresses mainly due to low state and business engagement. The current war in Eastern Europe is not only accelerating the energy landscape transformation but also reshaping the logic of the energy value chain. Until now, it was mainly relying on the principle of low-cost supply in underdeveloped countries with high-value processing in developed countries. In the future, it would be organised around three main supply chains: the first one, based on the former logic, will expand with a consequent development of oil processing in the southern world for their own market. The second one will rely on the rehabilitation and the implementation of projects that were not cost efficient (for instance, shale oil in the USA and high deep-sea offshore extraction in African countries). The third one will proceed from the in-country development of renewable energy capacity both inland and at sea. This Special Issue aims to contribute to the advance of thinking on the consequences of the development of these three future ways of provisioning energy.

Prof. Dr. Devinder Mahajan
Prof. Dr. Pierre Failler
Prof. Dr. Zhan-Ming Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 803 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Renewable Energy Sources Sector Development in the European Union

by Laima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė, Alina Kvietkauskienė, Manuela Tvaronavičienė, Irena Danilevičienė and Dainora Gedvilaitė

Energies 2025, 18(17), 4786; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174786 - 8 Sep 2025

Viewed by 583

Abstract

The global energy landscape is transforming, driven by the urgent need to address climate change, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and promote sustainable economic growth. Renewable energy sources (RESs) have emerged as a cornerstone of this transition, offering environmental benefits and significant potential to catalyze economic development. By harnessing inexhaustible natural resources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, renewable energy systems provide a pathway to achieving energy security, fostering innovation, and generating new economic opportunities. In this article, the economic effect on the RES sector development was examined. The authors defined the set from seven indicators: real GDP growth, unemployment rate, inflation rate, exports of goods and services, government debt, foreign direct investments, and labor cost index, which allowed them to evaluate the EU countries’ economic situation and rank the countries by economic stability level. The results, which were obtained using a multi-criteria evaluation method, show that the EU countries whose economies are the strongest according to the evaluated macroeconomic indicators are Luxembourg, Malta, Estonia, and Ireland. The countries with the lowest scores are Greece, Italy, and Spain. Seeking to evaluate the development level of the RES sector in all ranked EU countries, the analysis of RES sector development during the 2012–2022 period, using these RES indicators—share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by sector—in general, in transport, in electricity, and in heating and cooling, was carried out and, through a different multi-criteria method, the countries were ranked by RES development. After the analysis was carried out, it could be stated that the economic situation stability in the country does not directly affect the growth of the RES sector development, and the two rankings by different indicators are heavily uncorrelated. RES sector development can be affected by many other circumstances. RES development is still stagnating in some countries, despite macroeconomic stability, for several reasons: institutional and political barriers, differences in the availability of finance, infrastructure limitations, and technological and human resource shortages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1141 KB

Open AccessArticle

Monthly Load Forecasting in a Region Experiencing Demand Growth: A Case Study of Texas

by Jeong-Hee Hong and Geun-Cheol Lee

Energies 2025, 18(15), 4135; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154135 - 4 Aug 2025

Viewed by 559

Abstract

In this study, we consider monthly load forecasting, which is an essential decision for energy infrastructure planning and investment. This study focuses on the Texas power grid, where electricity consumption has surged due to rising industrial activity and the increased construction of data centers driven by growing demand for AI. Based on an extensive exploratory data analysis, we identify key characteristics of monthly electricity demand in Texas, including an accelerating upward trend, strong seasonality, and temperature sensitivity. In response, we propose a regression-based forecasting model that incorporates a carefully designed set of input features, including a nonlinear trend, lagged demand variables, a seasonality-adjusted month variable, average temperature of a representative area, and calendar-based proxies for industrial activity. We adopt a rolling forecasting approach, generating 12-month-ahead forecasts for both 2023 and 2024 using monthly data from 2013 onward. Comparative experiments against benchmarks including Holt–Winters, SARIMA, Prophet, RNN, LSTM, Transformer, Random Forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost show that the proposed model achieves superior performance with a mean absolute percentage error of approximately 2%. The results indicate that a well-designed regression approach can effectively outperform even the latest machine learning methods in monthly load forecasting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 296 KB

Open AccessArticle

Residential Heating Method and Housing Prices: Results of an Empirical Analysis in South Korea

by Chang-Soo Noh, Min-Ki Hyun and Seung-Hoon Yoo

Energies 2025, 18(14), 3809; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143809 - 17 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1212

Abstract

This study empirically delves into whether residential heating methods significantly affect apartment prices in Uiwang City, a suburban city near the Seoul Metropolitan area, South Korea. Using data from 1256 apartment sales, where both district heating systems (DHSs) and individual heating systems (IHSs) coexist, a hedonic price equation was estimated to analyze the impact of the heating method choices on housing values. Various housing attributes, including physical, locational, and environmental factors, were controlled, and multiple regression models were compared to identify the best-performing specification. The results show that apartments equipped with a DHS are priced, on average, KRW 92 million (USD 72 thousand) higher than those with an IHS. The price difference corresponds to KRW 849 thousand (USD 665) per m² and possesses the statistical significance at the 5% level. Moreover, it is quite meaningful, representing roughly 11.2% of the price of an average apartment. These findings suggest that the use of DHS has a positive effect on apartment prices that reflect consumers’ preferences, beyond its advantages in stable heat supply and energy cost savings. This article provides empirical evidence that DHS can serve as an important urban infrastructure contributing to asset value enhancement. Although this study is based on a specific geographic area and caution must be exercised in generalizing its findings, it reports the interesting finding that residential heating method significantly affects housing prices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

33 pages, 1609 KB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation and Forecasting of the Average Unit Cost of Energy Supply in a Distribution System Using Multiple Linear Regression and ARIMAX Modeling in Ecuador

by Pablo Alejandro Mendez-Santos, Nathalia Alexandra Chacón-Reino, Luis Fernando Guerrero-Vásquez, Jorge Osmani Ordoñez-Ordoñez and Paul Andrés Chasi-Pesantez

Energies 2025, 18(14), 3659; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143659 - 10 Jul 2025

Viewed by 545

Abstract

The accurate estimation of electricity supply costs has become increasingly relevant due to growing demand, variable generation sources, and regulatory changes in emerging power systems. This study models the average unit cost of electricity supply (USD/kWh) in Ecuador using multiple linear regression techniques and ARIMAX forecasting, based on monthly data from 2018 to 2024. The regression models incorporate variables such as energy demand, generation mix, transmission costs, and regulatory indices. To enhance model robustness, we apply three variable selection strategies: correlation analysis, PCA, and expert-driven selection. Results show that all models explain over 70% of price variability, with the highest-performing regression model achieving

R^{2} = 0.9887

. ARIMAX models were subsequently implemented using regression-based forecasts as exogenous inputs. The ARIMAX model based on highly correlated variables achieved a MAPE below 5%, showing high predictive accuracy. These findings support the use of hybrid statistical models for informed policy-making, tariff planning, and operational cost forecasting in structurally constrained energy markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4805 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Facile Ultrapure Water Production Method for Electrolysis via Multilayered Photovoltaic/Membrane Distillation

by Damian Amiruddin, Devinder Mahajan, Dufei Fang, Wenbin Wang, Peng Wang and Benjamin S. Hsiao

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5765; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155765 - 2 Aug 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3090

Abstract

Ultrapure water production is vital for sustainable green hydrogen production by electrolysis. The current industrial process to generate ultrapure water involves energy-intensive processes, such as reverse osmosis. This study demonstrates a facile method to produce ultrapure water from simulated seawater using a low capital cost and low-energy-consuming membrane distillation (MD) approach that is driven by the waste heat from photovoltaic (PV) panels. To optimize the PV-MD operation, modeling efforts to design a multilayered MD system were carried out. The results were used to guide the construction of several prototype devices using different materials. The best performing PV-MD device, containing evaporation and condensation regions made from steel sheets and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes, can produce high-purity water with conductivity less than 40 mS and flux higher than 100 g/m² h, which is suitable for typical electrolyzer use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1136 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Differential Effects of Oil Prices on the Development of Renewable Energy in Oil-Importing and Oil-Exporting Countries in Africa

by Ishaya Jonah Tegina Tambari, Pierre Failler and Shabbar Jaffry

Energies 2023, 16(9), 3803; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093803 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2506

Abstract

The shift to renewable sources of energy has become a critical economic priority in African countries due to energy challenges. However, investors in the development of renewable energy face problems with decision making due to the existence of multiple criteria, such as oil prices and the associated macroeconomic performance. This study aims to analyze the differential effects of international oil prices and other macroeconomic factors on the development of renewable energy in both oil-importing and oil-exporting countries in Africa. The study uses a panel vector error correction model (P-VECM) to analyze data from five net oil exporters (Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria) and five net oil importers (Kenya, Ethiopia, Congo, Mozambique and South Africa). The study finds that higher oil prices positively affect the development of renewable energy in oil-importing countries by making renewable energy more economically competitive. Economic growth is also identified as a major driver of the development of renewable energy. While high-interest rates negatively affect the development of renewable energy in oil-importing countries, it has positive effects in oil-exporting countries. Exchange rates play a crucial role in the development of renewable energy in both types of countries with a negative effect in oil-exporting countries and a positive effect in oil-importing countries. The findings of this study suggest that policymakers should take a holistic approach to the development of renewable energy that considers the complex interplay of factors, such as oil prices, economic growth, interest rates, and exchange rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 336 KB

Open AccessArticle

Price Dynamics and Interactions between the Chinese and European Carbon Emission Trading Markets

by Qiyun Cheng, Huiting Qiao, Yimiao Gu and Zhenxi Chen

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1624; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041624 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

The European carbon emission trading market is the largest and most mature market, while China’s carbon market has a short history. Institutionally, cross-market transaction is infeasible between the two markets. This paper investigates the long-run trend between the two markets as well as the price dynamics. Results show that a long-run trend exists between the Chinese and European carbon markets. Both markets possess self-correction capability in reducing price deviations, signaling a certain level of market efficiency. However, both markets also exhibit pricing inefficiency as historical price movements are able to impact prices. The European market informationally leads the Chinese market. Policy implications are that China should further upgrade its information disclosure system, such as unifying information disclosure standards across industries, and further develop its carbon derivatives markets to improve market transparency and market competition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

35 pages, 1437 KB

Open AccessReview

An International Review of Hydrogen Technology and Policy Developments, with a Focus on Wind- and Nuclear Power-Produced Hydrogen and Natural Hydrogen

by Kathleen Araújo, Edward Potter, Anna Kouts, Oliver Newman, Max Milarvie, Fred Carcas, Cassie Koerner and Jacob Placido

Energies 2025, 18(17), 4619; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174619 - 30 Aug 2025

Viewed by 726

Abstract

The potential for hydrogen to reshape energy systems has been recognized for over a century. Yet, as decarbonization priorities have sharpened in many regions, three distinct frontier areas are critical to consider: hydrogen produced from wind; hydrogen produced from nuclear power; and the development of natural hydrogen. These pathways reflect technology and policy changes, including a 54% increase in the globally installed wind capacity since 2020, plus new signs of potential emerging in nuclear energy and natural hydrogen. Broadly speaking, there is a considerable number of studies covering hydrogen production from electrolysis, yet none systematically examine wind- and nuclear-derived hydrogen, natural hydrogen, or the policies that enable their adoption in key countries. This article highlights international policy and technology developments, with a focus on prime movers: Germany, China, the US, and Russia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 6854 KB

Open AccessReview

Navigating the Evolution of Cyprus’ Electricity Landscape: Drivers, Challenges and Future Prospects

by Venizelos Venizelou and Andreas Poullikkas

Energies 2025, 18(5), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051199 - 28 Feb 2025

Viewed by 2459

Abstract

The energy transition of Cyprus presents a distinctive case study influenced by its geographic isolation, regulatory evolution, and the imperative to integrate renewable energy sources (RESs). This paper critically examines the chronological progression of Cyprus’ energy transition, beginning with the formulation of a liberalized electricity market aligned with the European Union’s Target Model. The analysis explores key drivers underpinning increased RES investments, while addressing the transformative impacts of global disruptions on energy security and policy priorities. Furthermore, it assesses pivotal regulatory reforms and the advancement of enabling infrastructure, such as advanced metering systems and cross–border interconnections, which underpin the island’s energy modernization efforts. Finally, this paper identifies opportunities for Cyprus to position itself as a regional smart energy hub, offering valuable insights into the challenges and prospects faced by isolated energy systems within the context of the European energy transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

37 pages, 7782 KB

Open AccessReview

Polymeric Membranes for H₂S and CO₂ Removal from Natural Gas for Hydrogen Production: A Review

by Shraavya Rao, Babul Prasad, Yang Han and W.S. Winston Ho

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5713; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155713 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6100

Abstract

Natural gas, an important source of hydrogen, is expected to be crucial in the transition to a hydrogen-based economy. The landscape of the gas processing industry is set to change in the near future with the development of highly acidic sour gas wells. Natural gas purification constitutes a major share of the gas separation membrane market, and the shift to low-quality sour gas wells has been mirrored in the trends of membrane material research. Purification also constitutes the major portion of the cost of natural gas, posing implications for the cost of hydrogen production. This review provides an update on the current state of research regarding polymeric membranes for H₂S removal, along with CO₂ separation, from natural gas that is used for hydrogen production via steam methane reforming. The challenges of adapting polymeric membranes to ternary H₂S/CO₂/CH₄ separations are discussed in detail. Key polymeric materials are highlighted, and the prospects for their application in H₂S removal from natural gas are evaluated. Finally, the growing interest in H₂ production from H₂S is discussed. Advances in the membrane industry and the emergence of new membrane materials may significantly improve the commercial viability of such processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Economic Growth, Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI